ARSENE Wenger has warned his Arsenal side of the danger posed by Liverpool striker Fernando Torres ahead of Wednesday's Champions' League quarter-final tie.

The match is the first in a run of three consecutive fixtures against the Reds, with the two-legged tie sandwiching a Premier League fixture at the Emirates on Saturday, and Wenger is aware that Torres, who has 21 league goals to his name in his debut season in English football, will have to be stopped if the Gunners are to prevail.

"I rate Torres," said Wenger of Liverpool's hit-man. "I believe he had quite a good start after a spell when he was in and out.

"Since he is back on a regular basis, he is extremely dangerous."

The Frenchman acknowledges that the two teams will know each other well, but insisted that his players will be desperate to overcome this "test of character."

He said: "When you play a 'local' team in the European Cup it is a test of character. We know we can do it, but who wants it the most.

"Against an English team the competition is always different. We know each other well, so there are two things which will make the difference - the quantity of the mental strengths available in the teams and how well the players who can make a decision perform.

"We play each other three times in six days and it will be a case of 'who is ready again'?"

Despite the opposition remaining the same, Wenger recognises that the preparation for the Champions' League tie will be altogether different to the Premier League clash at the weekend, especially given the Reds' impressive recent record in the competition, which they famously won in 2005.

"In this game - a direct knockout - the goal conceded at home is the killer," he said. "In a league game you think even if you concede a goal you can still win it.

"So we have to be organised, cautious and make sure you defend well first before you attack."

Arsenal sent holders AC Milan crashing out in the last round thanks to a superb team performance at the San Siro, but Wenger is aware that Liverpool will pose a more physical threat to his side than the Italians.

"Liverpool will be more rough, more edgy and difficult to penetrate," he observed. "Milan was a confrontation of two similar styles where we were better. Against Liverpool we will have to win the physical battle as well.

"They can raise their game and it is a team which at home can dig deep and produce a result.

"We want to win the game on Tuesday, but 0-0 is never a disappointing result at home in the first leg because it puts the team who plays against you at home under huge pressure.

"They play with the idea that if they concede a goal they are out. That puts them a little bit in between - do we go for it or do we wait? It gives you a good chance."

The victors' likely opponents in the semi-finals are Chelsea, who are expected to progress past Fenerbache, while the other English representative, Manchester United, play Roma in the other half of the draw. And Wenger is convinced that at least one of the remaining four home teams will make it to the final in Moscow.

"Certainly one English if not two will be in the final this year," he declared. "We were in the final in 2006 and we can come there again."